Turtleheart's Path

Chapter 26

"Windclan, i have words to tell you but you must have an open mind." Bramblestar began. Turtleheart shifted her paws and sat down, ignoring the kicking at her belly. "Turtleheart, is expecting kits." Her mother sighed. "I do not expect you to treat her differently than any other queen. If i hear harsh words or anything ill kill you myself." Bramblestar glared at the clan, hushed mumbles ran through the clearing. "I will not tell who my kits' father is, it is none of your business and it will remain unknown." Turtleheart heard before realizing it was her own stern words. "I bet its that Riverclan tom she snuck into the medicine den during the most recent battle." A murmur rippled through the crowd and up to Tall rock. "Riverclan!" Another cat hissed. Turtleheart saw her mother's fur ripple. "Fine, maybe it was. But if I ever see any cat bashing on him, ill kill you." Turtleheart sneered, pinning her ears and extending her claws. "A medicine cat threatening her clan! How warriorlike." A voice from the medicine den rasped. Turtleheart saw Lionoak standing in the entrance. Bramblestar bristled. "Let me take care of him, he'd hurt the kits." Her mother growled.
Bramblestar flew above the crowd, tackling Lionoak. Lionoak yelped and the cats moved away from the wrestling cats. Lionoak reared on Bramblestar's shoulders but Bramblestar was faster, she twisted and bit down on the tom's paw and slammed him down. "This cat, you see, has just used dark forest moves. Shame on him." Bramblestar pinned him, her muscles rippling under her fur. Hawkgrowl's hiss sounded. "Palecrash was right, Bramblestar is still afraid!" Bramblestar's eyes flashed and she slammed Lionoak's head down and tackled her former mate. Turtleheart's eyes widened. Bramblestar bit down on Hawkgrowl's shoulder, twisting as he tried to bite her. Bramblestar let him go and reared up, slamming down on the toms shoulders. "Any cat in the dark forest right now, step forward." She demanded. Briarfang came from the medicine den, her muzzle looking down to her paws. Birdnose and Sheepfur stepped forwards too. "Traitors. Leave now and do not return until you are free from their grasp. You will be treated as outsiders until you apologize to me completely." Bramblestar said and leaped onto the rock. "Until they return and beg for mercy, Hawkgrowl, Briarfang, Lionoak, Sheepfur and Birdnose are considered outsiders." She yowled. The group of cats left camp, their heads down. "Birchpaw, I will mentor you myself." She added and leaped down and stalked into her den.
Turtleheart padded into the nursery after the long day, the sun was going down and a cold breeze flooded camp. It was Newleaf but the breeze was cold from Leafbare. She laid down and ate the borage Sparrowfeather had given her on the way out. Sleeping in the medicine den made her nauseous and since she was due any day now, it was better for her to stay in the nursery. Graytooth and her four kits were sleeping quietly.
She woke at around dawn to a pain that was worse than any she'd ever felt. Turtleheart shrieked and clawed at her moss. Sparrowfeather's pawsteps sounded nearby along with her mothers. Whiteclaw and Mumblejaw took all three apprentices out of camp. Haresprint and Redcall went out hunting while Waspear remained in camp. Graytooth was herding her kits out of the nursery.
Turtleheart cleaned off her kits head and sighed. "That is all. You did well. What are their names?" Sparrowfeather asked. "This one, Ivykit." She touched her nose to the kit that looked more like her. "Stemkit for the tom and Squirrelkit for the she. Squirrelkit looks just like her father." Sparrowfeather smiled. "Speaking of, how will he meet his kits?" Bramblestar frowned. "The gathering is tonight, I will ask if he will sneak away. He can meet his kits and return. Windclan warriors will say nothing." Sparrowfeather said. "He was so excited for our kits." Turtleheart yawned. "Lets let her sleep we-" Bramblestar began to say before being interrupted.
"Bramblestar!" Haresprint and Redcall hauled in Birdnose. "She claims she has learned her lesson." Haresprint reported. Birdnose stood tall even though she looked as if she'd fought a fox. "I fought for my life in the dark forest. I have been spared." She rasped before collapsing onto her side. Sparrowfeather leapt down with an approving nod from Bramblestar. "When she is healed, she will be a Windclan warrior again." The leader mewed. Redcall and Haresprint helped the fallen warrior to the medicine den before collecting their prey on the moor. Turtleheart sighed before falling asleep to her mother's tongue rasping over her head.